The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-26
The AMERICAN CARDINAL
THE MOST REVEREND ARCH.
BISHOP OF BALTIMORE,
Takes Possession OF His Titular
Church, Santa Marie Trastevere
Imposing Ceremonies

RoME, March 25.-It was Just 1880
O'Clock this morning, the day being
the sacred feast day OF the Annuncia-
ton, when Cardinal James Gibbons,
Archbishop of Baltimore, Md, arrived
at the iron CITES OF the portico Of the
Basilica OF Santa Marie IN Trastevere,
for the purpose OF formally taking pos.
session Of it as his ttular Church.
He was arrayed in tie splendid robes
OF Cardinal-weaIing q white fur
cspe, crimson elk mantle and long
train. Wien he reached the door OF
the church be kne't upon a cushion
plsced there on a strip Of carpst. The
csnons belonging 10 the church and
the students OF the American College
in Rome, wearing surplices, were
waiting for the Archbishop. Student
Stickey, Of Cincinnati, O., was cross
bearer, and the acolytes carrying can
dies were students Dohrty, of Balii-
more, Nd, and Shea, OF Cincinnati,
o. Bishops Keane, OF Richmond, Va,
aud Wstterson, OF Columbus, o, were
with the c.n1ns waiting. Student
Rsardon, Of Baltimore, Md, bore the
ciuci6x. Cardinal Gibbons, when g
apprc ached the chuich, was accom-
panied by the Right Rev. John
Ireland, Bishop of st Paul, Mimi f,
and by Master OF Ceremonies
Maruicci and others. The Cardinal,
after kneelibg, kissed the cruCifx,
which was presented to him by q
canon wearing cope. The Cardinal
then put on his beretta, and 80 Gov
cred, placed incense in the thunble.
He then again bsTtd his head, took
the Aspsrsoiium from the canon who
had presented him with the cIucifix,
and sigued himself with tho sign Of
the cross. Then replacing the beretts,
he ssperged the people present with
holy water, after which he again re-
moved his beretta and was thrice in
censed by the canon, the choir mean.
while singing the antiphon, "Ecce
SaceTdos Msgnus." After being thus
ince nsed the procession moved to the
altar, followed by the Cardinal, who
blessed the people as he went. At
the altar the blessed sacrament was
administered, and all khelt for short
time in prayer. The procession next
went to the high altar. There the
Cardinal knelt and the canon reclted
the Paternoster and other prayers. In
the apse throne, with white back
and crimson canopy, had been placed.
The Cardinal seated himself on the
throne, the bishops and priests in at.
tendance being seated about him. The
prothonotary, Monslgnor Pericol, there
upon read In Latin the pspal bull as.
signing the church Santa Maria In
Trastevere TO Cardinal Gibbons as his
titular church. This bull was long
document, and recited at length the
nature Of the assignment OF the gov
eminent custody OF the bull, the
canons went forward to the throne,
and all but the chief canon knelt and
kissed the Cardinals haDd-the Oar.
dinal rising to receive the chief canon
for the kiss Of peace d 0scul,im pdcis.
An address from the canoDs TO the
Cardinal was then read In Latin by
Canon francesca Arduini. 1t was Of
great length. To this Cardinal Glib
bons remaining seated aud wearing
his berretta replied In English as fol-
lows: 1.-THE assignment to me by the
Holy Father OF this beautiful basllica
as my titular church fills me with feel
ings Of 10y and gratitude, which any
words OF mine are wholly inadequst,
to express, For rs here in Rome
stand within the first temple raised II
honor OF the ever blessed Virgin
Mary, go in my far q Il home my Owl
cathedral church in the United
States, ia also dedicated to tn,
Mother Of God. This venerable
edifce in which we arr
gathered leads us back il
contemplation to the days Of the cAta
combs. It's foundation was laid by
Pope Oalixus In the year Of our Lore
224. 1t WAS restored by Pope Juliu
In the fourth century, aud renovated
by another supreme pontiff in thu
twelfth. That never ceasing solicitud,
which the sovereign pontitls have ex
hibited in erecting those material tenn
plea which are the glory Of this cit!
they have also manifested on large
scale in rearing spiritual walls to IioI
throughout Ohristendom in every age
Scarcely w,re the United States o
America formed into an Independent
government when Pope Plus VII. es
iablished therein a Catholic hierarch,
an appointed the illustrious JOIN
Carroll the first Bishop OF Baltimore
Our Catholic community in those day
numbered ouly few thousand souls
and they were scattered chiefly
through the States OF NewYork, Penn
sylvania and Maryland. They wer
served by the mere handful Of priests
but row, thanks to the iructifyin
grace OF God the grain of mustard SCI,
Inen planted has grown large tree
spreading lis branches through tn
length and breadth Of our fair land
Where only enc Bishop was found il
the beginning of this century Their
are now twenty-five tx rcisinR spiritu
al jurisdiction. For this great progress
we are indebted, under God and tn
fostering care of the Holy See, to tn
civil liberty we enjoy in cur enlight
ened Republic. Oar holy father, lie
Mi, in his luminous enCyclical o.
the constitution OF Christian States
declares thit the church ia not con
mitttd to any particular form OF CIV
government. She adapls herself I
all. She lesvens all With the sacre
leaven OF the gospel. She has live
under sbsoluts Empires, under const
tutional monRrchies and in free RI
publics, ard everywhere she grow
and expands. She las often, indeed
been hsmpered in her divine mission
She has even been forced to struggl
for Existence, wherever despotism hr
cast its dark shadow, like plant shu
cut from the blessed sunlight {
heaven. But in the genial atmospher
of liberty che blossoms like the ros
For myself, as a citizen OF the Unite
Statee, and without closing IN
eyes TO our shortcomings as
nation, / say, with deep sens
ofspride and gratitude, that I beloE
to county where the civil govern
ment holds over us the g9is OF its pr
tee ion without interfering with ua |
the legitimate ex rcise OF our sublim
mission ss Ministers Of the Gospel {
Christ. Our country has liberty will
out license and authority without de
potism. She reaTs no wall TO exclud